Dame Helen Mirren has praised herself for being ‘very brave’ after breaking her finger while filming the sequel to the superhero blockbuster Shazam!
In the forthcoming DC Comics film Shazam!, the 77-year-old Oscar winner and Charlie’s Angels star Lucy Liu both portray Atlas’ daughters. The Gods’ Wrath.
Zachary Levi, who appeared in Shazam! in 2019, reprises his role as the superhero, whose true name is Billy Batson, as he battles Hespera (Dame Helen) and Liu as Kalypso.
‘Don’t ask me about the plot, it’s too complicated,’ Dame Helen laughed.
‘We are angry goddesses wearing unbelievably heavy costumes. It was very hot and uncomfortable and, in fact, Lucy said at the end of the first day’s shooting, “they are trying to kill us” in all seriousness.’
The highly regarded actress, who is best known for portraying queens like as Catherine the Great and the late Queen Elizabeth II, stated that she is not a ‘huge superhero type person,’ but because the first film was’sweet and hilarious,’ she ‘gladly signed on’.
Dame Helen admitted on The Graham Norton Show that she didn’t come out unharmed from her stunt job.
‘I did some of my own stunts, but I broke my finger.
‘I was incredibly brave and didn’t say anything or complain because I wanted to be a real ‘stunty’ person,’ she admitted while showing off the evidence of her injury.
On Friday, The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal, West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose, and singer songwriter Freya Ridings will join comedian and talk show presenter Graham Norton on the BBC show.
Pascal portrays The Mandalorian, a bounty hunter who wears his helmet for the majority of the Disney Plus Star Wars spin-off drama.
Nonetheless, the hero was pleased to concede that he was overshadowed by Grogu, a non-human kid who has been his travelling companion from the beginning of the series, which takes place shortly after the evil empire’s demise in 1983’s Star Wars VI: Return Of The Jedi.
‘Yes, absolutely. (Grogu) is remarkably lifelike and a real screen partner but does steal every scene,’ he agreed.
Grogu, also known as The Child, has become an internet celebrity, being dubbed “baby Yoda” because he resembles the Jedi master from the Star Wars movie and has the ability to utilise The Force.
The Mandalorian, also known as Din Djarin, and Grogu will journey together again in the forthcoming third series after being reunited in 2021’s The Book of Boba Fett.
Meanwhile, Ariana DeBose is coming off a headline-grabbing performance as a performer at the Baftas last Sunday, when her unique rap verse in her opening medley spotlighting female candidates captivated audiences.
Lyrics included: ‘Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my Woman King,’ Blanchett Cate you’re a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,’ which has led to the question which thing, exactly, did Oscar-nominee Angela do?
Shazam! Fury of the Gods will release in cinemas on March 17. The Graham Norton Show is on Friday at 10.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.